Playing with LEDs...

[DurocShark]

I had told Anubis a while back about an idea I had to use LEDs to light macro subjects. Then life got in the way and I never got a chance to really mess with the concept.

So, I hacked 3 LEDs, a resistor (to bring 14v down to 3.3v, but it's on a 12v power rail, so they're slightly underdriven at the moment), some wires, and a busted CD jewel case and plugged the mess into my PC 12v rail.

Note that the LED's are NOT fixed in place in that plastic. I need to hot glue them so they point straight. So the pics you see are really lit with only 2 of these LEDs, since the third is birdwatching.

Pic1
Pic2
Pic3
Pic4

The resistors I had bought were to use the LEDs to light up my bus, and since 14.2v is normal when the bus is running, I calc'd for that.

The actual idea here is to have a battery powered LED kit to work in the field. Have it attach to the lens (my idea) or to the tripod mount or something else (Anubis' idea).

Considering I couldn't get a shutter speed faster than 1/80 with 2 LEDs on that quarter even at f2.8 (widest my Oly C-4000's aperture will go) I think I'll need a minimum of 6 LEDs to be useful. Hmm...

 

[neonerd]

heh, idk why...but it looks pretty cool

 

[Viper GTS]

Go check out some flashlight forums, it would seem to me a high watt LED (or an array) in a nice textured reflector would be the way to go.

Viper GTS

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Go check out some flashlight forums, it would seem to me a high watt LED (or an array) in a nice textured reflector would be the way to go.

Viper GTS

Actually, those are what gave me the idea.

And a reflector really isn't necessary, since the light cone on these is so narrow.

 

[Anubis]

oo progress but how you gonna hook that to a camera?

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: Anubis
oo progress but how you gonna hook that to a camera?

Well, right now I need to determine how many LEDs will allow f11 @ 1/250 with a distance of 3-5".

My digicam sucks at macro (8"+) so I'm still working on it... I need to go buy a crappy macro diopter. This, while giving horrid image quality, will allow testing to continue.

 

[Viper GTS]

Originally posted by: DurocShark

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Go check out some flashlight forums, it would seem to me a high watt LED (or an array) in a nice textured reflector would be the way to go.

Viper GTS

Actually, those are what gave me the idea.

And a reflector really isn't necessary, since the light cone on these is so narrow.

My goal with the reflector was to get rid of the light points.

Ditch the top emitting LED's for side emitters, add a textured reflector to even out the beam.

Viper GTS

 

[DurocShark]

Originally posted by: Viper GTS

Originally posted by: DurocShark

Originally posted by: Viper GTS
Go check out some flashlight forums, it would seem to me a high watt LED (or an array) in a nice textured reflector would be the way to go.

Viper GTS

Actually, those are what gave me the idea.

And a reflector really isn't necessary, since the light cone on these is so narrow.

My goal with the reflector was to get rid of the light points.

Ditch the top emitting LED's for side emitters, add a textured reflector to even out the beam.

Viper GTS

DAMMIT!!! YOU SUCK!!!

Now my brain's chugging along again... Grrr....

 

[cthulhu]

Pretty cool.